Erlea's wings buzzed loudly as she took off from the center of the village. Even though Gral said that she was free to go, she half expected to hear the whistle of an arrow or the whoosh of a net to pull her down. Instead, the orcs in the village either ignored her or watched with disinterest as she circled around the campfire.
The only one who watched her with any attention was Gral. He stood next to his replacement Orc Chief who appeared almost identical except for the sharpness in Gral's eyes. Even from a distance, she could tell which one was Gral and which one was her own child simply by the actions. Gral seemed more aware than any of the other orcs.
She lifted her head and gained altitude. After days of being fucked and bound, it felt good. She rose until she hovered along the sky box and looked around for her companions.
The world below her was arranged in a grid. She could see the straight lines of paths, clumps of trees that ended in sharp corners, and even rivers that took sharp turns as they jaggedly ran across the zone.
She slowly turned around, focusing on her attention on the filled areas. That was the place where the breeders lived and that would be where her friends would stay.
It only took her a few moments to spot a small, hive-like structure nestled against a tree. It looked like the one Miere had crafted in the swamp except it didn't need the chimney to keep the slimes out.
She smiled and summoned her barrier in case of a surprise attack. Then she lifted herself up while reaching up with her feet. When her soles pressed against the invisible surface of the sky box, she took a deep breath and kicked off.
The world quickly grew larger as she streaked toward the hive. Her planned route would take her a few squares away and then race along the ground in an attempt not to creating a glowing arrow to signal her friends' position.
Her dive brought her inches from the ground before she skimmed the surface. Grasses and trees whistled past her as she dove into the impassable area. Her Barrier glowed brightly in the dim light and gave her a measure of comfort as she whipped past a few stray orcs and various twisted animal creatures.
“Erlea!” cried out Tira.
Erlea came to a rapid halt, her wings buzzing violently as she looked around for the source of her friend's voice. Branches and trunks crowded her, making it impossible to see anything. She frowned and kept her Barrier up as she scanned around again.
Then there was a shimmering on one branch. Erlea's attention drew toward it even as Tira landed. It was as if the moth girl had just appeared out of nowhere. Her large breasts jiggled as she stood up on the branch and folded her wings against her back.
With a smile, Erlea buzzed over. She dropped her Barrier and flattened her wings before pulling Tira into a tight hug.
“We were so worried about you!” The citrus smell hovered around the moth. “Billie and I were on our way to try rescuing you again.”
Tira smiled and stroked her hand along Erlea's arms. “I'm so happy to see you.”
Billie cleared her throat. She stood underneath them on the ground.
With an embarrassed noise, both of the flying breeders took off from the branch. Erlea hovered straight down but Tira had to sail out a short distance coming back.
On the ground, Erlea looked nervously at Billie.
The beetle girl had a large sword for one of her hands and a small shield for the other. A scowl etched her face as she look up and down Erlea.
Erlea kept still, except for her wings, and waited for the inspection.
When it started to stretch out, Erlea couldn't help but feel awkwardly uncomfortable. She twisted her hips slightly as she waited for Billie to say something.
“Billie,” Tira said in a warning tone.
The beetle girl shook her head. “Glad to see you made it back. Did you kill everyone?”
Erlea's wings buzzed louder. “I didn't kill any of them. He just let me go once he said I was done.”
“Just like that?” Billie's scowl deepened.
The discomfort rose up but Erlea fought the urge. “Yes, just like that. He said I recovered their roster of random encounters and I was done. Then he let me go.”
She didn't want to mention the two rounds of more tender fucking that had produced the final two Orc Chiefs.
Tira held up one wing and a hand. “Who's he?”
“Sorry. Gral, he's the old Orc Chief.”
Billie's eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you didn't kill anyone. Why is he the ‘old’ chief and not the current one?”
The sharpness of the tone froze Erlea. How could she explain that Gral wanted to join them? She wasn't sure herself, now that her mind wasn't addled with lust and desire. She believed he wanted to help.
Her wings slumped and she looked away. “He wants to help us.”
“What?” Billie's voice was sharp. “And no! I hope you blasted his ass away!”
Erlea glanced at Tira. When she saw the moth girl frowning, she despaired. How could she convince the two that Gral was only offering to help.
Billie grabbed Erlea's arms. One hand was still transforming and there was a long scrape before they formed into fingers. “Tell me you blew him away! Tell me! Right now!”
Erlea shook her head.
“Then I'm going to kill every single one!” Billie snapped her hand down and her limb reshaped into a long blade. “They bred you, they all die!”
Turning on her heels, she stalked away from Erlea and Tira.
Erlea's wings buzzed angrily. She launched herself up and over Billie to land in front of her. “Stop.”
Billie snarled as she shoved herself past Erlea. “You've lost your mind, you stupid bee!”
The force of Billie's effort shoved Erlea hard against a tree. Sharp edges of bark caught her back and pinned one wing against the branches.
Instead of lust, a surge of anger rose up. Shoving herself away from the branches, she launched herself into the air. While the fury became energy for her RKA, she reconfigured it to make sure Billie wouldn't get hurt.
A sphere of crackling energy formed in her hands. She lifted it above her head. Nearby branches were vaporized when a faint breeze brought them in contact.
Tira called out. “Billie! Erlea, no!”
Billie turned, her face twisted in anger. But, as she saw Erlea's RKA poised to be released, her expression faded into shock.
Erlea punched the RKA into the ground. Shaped by her will, the energy burst straight up in a wall that curved around Billie. It vaporized tree, leaves, and rock in a perfect circle around the beetle girl.
The energy dissipated and left behind a smoking hole.
Billie froze. “You should have killed me.”
“No,” Erlea said, “I shouldn't have. You are a friend and I would never hurt you on purpose.”
“Yet, you insist on bringing the useless bee with you.”
Erlea's wings beat faster and she struggled against the life. “You mean the bee who made the hive you slept in?”
Billie's eyes flashed.
“Did Miere also cook like she usually does? Or give you a comfortable bed? Was she the one who protected you while you slept?”
With each question, Billie's face twisted.
Erlea finally managed to calm herself enough land. “Billie, she isn't useless.”
“She couldn't wait one day.” Billie held up her sword arm. “She couldn't throw herself at a damn goblin, gotten raped, and then let you please her for the rest of her life!”
“She was scared! We are only weeks old! With everything going on, why can't you understand that?”
“Because I lost to that damn King Slime because of her! Four damn times! Three is fine, but four is hell!” Billie stomped toward her. “There is no fun with four! There is no pleasure or happiness! It hurts and I just wanted it to end!”
Tira started to say something but Erlea held up her hand. Her fury was turning colder. She stepped up until they were breast to breast, their bodies barely touching. “Did she lose her abilities during that fight?”
“What in the world does that have to do with it!?”
Erlea stared into Billie's eyes. “Could she fight before the King Slime?”
“Of course not, she was a fucking honey licker!”
“And you didn't know that before that fight? Was her missing abilities a surprise?”
“Of course not, you stupid…” Something dawned. Billie hissed and stepped back. Her heel caught the scorched ring and she fell back.
Erlea grabbed for her, but the only thing she could reach was the sword arm. Without hesitating, she clamped her hand on the sharp blade and pulled.
The blade cut into her palm and blood poured out as she fumbled to keep a grip.
Billie caught herself and then yanked her blade free.
The edge caught on bone, scraping along it as it opened it up more.
She worked her mouth.
A trio of Rabid Squirrels burst out of the underbrush and charged toward them.
Without a second glance, Erlea reconfigured her RKA and then sent a line of killing energies toward them. The Squirrels died in a squeal of pain as did whatever was coming up behind them. The blast left a hundred foot line of smoldering ruin behind.
“You are my friend,” she said firmly. “We also agreed that Miere would be with us until Monefuck and we will figure out something. Until then, trust me.”
It was almost impossible to keep her voice steady with the pain of her bleeding wound but Erlea forced herself. She had to maintain her face if she wanted to Billie to keep with them.
Billie reformed her hand. “Monefuck, then the Shucks.”
“As we agreed.”
Tira came up next to Erlea. “Are we all good?”
Billie sighed. “Yes, but I don't want a fucking monster coming with us.”
Disappointed, Erlea agreed. “Gral knew it was only a small chance you'd allow it. He told me to find him to the north a few squares of the camp.”
“Then don't find him.”
“I won't, but we won't slaughter his camp either.”
“Fine,” came the terse response.
“Great,” Tira said. “Let's get our other bee, get Erlea's hand to stop bleeding, and get out of this zone as fast as we can.”